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Schalke forward Rabbi Matondo has apologised after a photo posted online showed him wearing a Borussia Dortmund shirt, emblazoned with Jadon Sancho's name and number, while taking part in a gym workout.

Dortmund and Schalke are arch-rivals in Germany's Bundesliga, and fans of the Gelsenkirchen club were unhappy to see one of their players wearing the kit of one of Borussia's star players.

Matondo apologised on Instagram, with the 19-year-old Wales international stating that he had not wanted to cause anyone "grief or trouble".

He wrote: "I am very sad and disappointed in myself that I have let down anyone who feels connected to Schalke. I was naive and put the jersey on for a private training session. The jersey was from my close friend Jadon Sancho. I only wore it because of Jadon, it had nothing to do with Dortmund.

"I did not think about the consequences and that it would annoy many people. There is no excuse for this immature behaviour. I can promise every Schalke player that I have identified with Schalke 100 percent since day one."

The picture was posted online by a gym in Cardiff where Matondo was training although it was later deleted following the angry reaction online from Schalke fans.

Matondo has been a prominent first-team player for Schalke ever since he moved to Germany from Manchester City in January 2019 in an £8 million deal, following the path trodden by his friend Sancho from the Premier League club’s academy to the Bundesliga in search of more first-team opportunities.

In 2019-20 he featured 20 times for Schalke in the Bundesliga, scoring twice, as David Wagner’s side endured a poor season which saw them finish 12th, just eight points above the relegation play-off place.

They failed to win a single league match after January 17, putting in a series of poor performances in the second half of the season, particularly after Bundesliga resumed following the hiatus in the campaign enforced by the coronavirus pandemic.

The nadir came when they were thrashed 4-0 by rivals Dortmund, which has served to deepen the resentment of Schalke fans and cause an even stronger reaction to Matondo’s error of judgement.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has aired his frustration at the lack of input from VAR during Arsenal’s clash with Liverpool, with Bukayo Saka caught by a shin-high tackle from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Gunners youngster clashed with a Reds rival early on in the second-half at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

It was clear at the time of the incident that he had been on the receiving end of a late challenge. Both men were looking to play the ball, but only one got a boot to it as the other came in over the top.

Saka was left in a crumpled heap on the turf, with Alexander-Arnold seeing a yellow card flashed in his direction.

That was considered to be the end of the matter, with those in charge of technological assistance opting against calling match referee Paul Tierney to a pitch-side monitor.

Slow motion replays showed that Alexander-Arnold had, despite not being at full speed and force, connected high up on Saka’s leg.

A similar incident during Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Leicester on July 7 saw Eddie Nketiah dismissed shortly after his introduction off the bench for a high challenge on Justin James . He had also initially been shown a yellow card, only to see his punishment increased on review.

Aubameyang is baffled as to why the same approach was not taken with Alexander-Arnold, with the Gunners captain taking to Twitter to vent his anger. He posted in response to an image of the incident in question: “WTF didn’t even get the VAR on this one.”

Arsenal fans had been quick to express their frustration at the time, with many asking further questions of the role technology has played in Premier League football this season.

Gunners legend Ian Wright was as perplexed as any, with the former frontman, speaking as a pundit on Match of the Day , saying: “There’ll probably be some long-winded reason why that’s not a sending off but Eddie Nketiah’s is. Something like that.”

Mikel Arteta could have been forgiven for joining the debate, having been the receiving end of two debatable calls in the space of three matches, but he was happy to reflect on a 2-1 win over the newly-crowned English champions .

He said of the incident: “It was in front of me and it's part of the game. I think they both went for the ball and that is part of the game.”

The Spaniard had said in the wake of Nketiah’s dismissal: “In the last year I have never seen a referee check any images. I do not understand the rules, but I can do nothing now.”

Arteta is trying to keep focus locked on a bid for European qualification , in Premier League and FA Cup competition, while also waiting on a decision from Aubameyang regarding a possible extension to his contract, which is only due to run until the summer of 2021.

AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli has revealed Franck Kessie is now indispensable to his team after his recent performances.

The midfielder has been in fine form since the restart of the Italian top-flight after it was suspended in mid-March due to the outbreak of coronavirus.

The 23-year-old Ivory Coast international has scored three goals in his last three games, including his strike in their victory over Parma on Wednesday.

The midfielder has not been at his best since the arrival of Pioli in October 2019 and fell out with the Italian tactician on a number of times but has been delivering superb performances lately to the admiration of his manager.

“There was some problem at the beginning, then we understood each other and now he is indispensable for my Milan. Even in difficult moments of the game he is always positive and his teammates recognize this," Pioli said.

Kessie also explained his limited playing time with the Red and Blacks in recent time was due to injury and disciplinary issues.

“Nothing serious happened, I feel comfortable with him. In the week of Juventus, I was a little injured and then I arrived a little late for training,” Kessie added.

“It is for this reason that I have not been called up, it was the technician's choice. The fact that he then made me play again makes it clear that he has nothing against me and I have nothing against him. "

Kessie has made 33 appearances across all competitions for the San Siro outfit, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

The midfielder joined the Red and Blacks permanently last summer from Atalanta after his convincing displays during his two-year loan stay with the side.

The Stella Club academy graduate will hope to continue his impressive performances when Milan take on Bologna in their next league game on Saturday.

Kessie is also a key member of the Ivory Coast national team, having featured in 40 games for the Elephants.

Punjab FC has received the necessary clearance from FIFA to resume transfer activity from the upcoming summer window.

Earlier, FIFA had imposed restrictions on the club’s ability to register new players for three transfer windows following an instance of delayed payments to North Macedonian footballer Hristijan Denkovski.

After the player and the club were embroiled in a contractual dispute, FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) passed a judgement in favour of the footballer on February 13 and had instructed the club to pay the compensation amount to the player within 45 days.

But despite the directive, the club failed to honour their obligation to the footballer within March 31, 2020. As a result, a transfer ban was imposed by the DRC and the club was instructed to clear the players’ dues at the earliest.

As per the contract, the player was supposed to earn $2000 per month and the final settlement amount was decided at $18,000 plus an interest rate of 5 per cent per annum on the amount as of August 29, 2019.

However, the DRC had also mentioned that Punjab had 45 days to clear the dues, after which the ban would come into effect. Since the club has been able to reach a settlement with the player the ban has been lifted with immediate effect. 

“RoundGlass Sports and Punjab FC are happy to have this matter cleared with FIFA. We have the highest regard for sportspersons and this case of the delayed payment goes against our ethos of providing a springboard for promoting Sports and Football in the nation. We look forward to the upcoming season with renewed focus, as our players have continued to build on their skills with active training, following a meticulous home-training schedule designed by our international coaches and technical team," stated a spokesperson of the club following the development. 

Football is the people’s game worldwide and it has especially won the hearts of South Africans. In keeping with their forward-thinking momentum and harnessing South African’s passion for the game, La Liga is bringing you entertainment in the comfort of your home with a new show.

As a Spanish league, La Liga's punditry can get lost in translation and lacks South African flavour. La Liga has found a solution to alleviate this, on 16 July, you will be able to enjoy a preview of La Liga Santander’s matchday 37 with Mzansi flair. The joint initiative between La Liga and SuperSport will be an experience that local fans will surely saviour.

The pre matchday show hosted by sports presenter Thato Moeng with renowned sports broadcaster Baba Mthethwa and South African comedian and football fanatic, Loyiso Gola. The trio shares a passion and have great knowledge of the game, and their energetic, larger-than-life personas are sure to offer a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. Viewers will be able to watch the show on Facebook live via La Liga and SuperSport Football’s accounts at 17:30.

“La Liga is a great league with world-class players that is loved by South Africans and I think adding our local opinions and pre-match analysis will intensify the anticipation of the games”, said Baba Mthethwa, award-winning sports commentator. “La Liga catering to the local audience by creating this show is remarkable and we have no doubt that we will deliver expert opinions in an entertaining way,” added sports presenter, Thato Moeng.

The first of its kind La Liga matchday preview

On 16 July 2020, the Real Madrid vs Villarreal match will be the main feature on the pre matchday analysis show with South African punditry. Crowd favourite Real Madrid are in a position to win the league, while Villarreal are fighting for a place in Europe next season. With both teams fighting for different targets, the game is set to be a nail-biter. The reverse fixture ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw and a bit of controversy when Gareth Bale was given a straight red card in stoppage time.

Thato Moeng, Baba Mthethwa and Loyiso Gola will be keeping everyone engaged as they unpack statistics from previous matches like Real Madrid’s nine match unbeaten run since the restart while Villarreal have only lost twice since the restart to Real Madrid rivals Barcelona and Real Sociedad in their last outing. The trio will also touch on the La Liga Santander season, the tight race for the title between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Los Blancos’ last title and other matches that will be played simultaneously featuring Barcelona vs Osasuna, Real Sociedad vs Sevilla and Getafe vs Atletico Madrid. As if the fight for the UEFA positions, bottom of the table survival isn’t enough the banter between these three will certainly have you counting down the hours to kick-off!

“I have always wanted to be part of a matchday analysis show and I am very honoured to do it alongside celebrated sports presenter Thato Moeng and award-winning commentator Baba Mthethwa. This show can be enjoyed by South Africans from all walks of life,” said comedian, Loyiso Gola.

Are you ready?

"As La Liga we are always looking for new ways to bring the game closer to the fans and this time we’re doing it with familiar faces. We're excited to see how South Africans receive this show. We are looking forward to a positive reaction and engagement from the audience,” said Marcos Pelegrin, Managing Director of La Liga South Africa.

This show promises to be an exciting way for South Africans to receive in-depth analysis about their favourite sport. It goes beyond the world of football; it’s about embracing a global sporting community.

Be sure to catch all the La Liga action on SuperSport 7, DStv channel 207 and GOtv’s SuperSport Select 4. Available on DStv’s Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access packages

John Stones has seen his future at Manchester City called into question, amid talk of interest from Arsenal and Everton, and the England international admits to having endured a “really frustrating” period at the Etihad Stadium.

Form and fitness concerns have been an issue for the 26-year-old centre-half throughout the 2019-20 campaign.

Questions were already being asked of whether he was the reliable option that City required at the heart of their back four now that Vincent Kompany is no longer around.

Stones has struggled to silence those doubters, with Pep Guardiola often opting to use holding midfielder Fernandinho as a defensive option ahead of more natural fits for that role.

That has led to transfer speculation being sparked in Manchester, with comings and goings being mooted.

It has been suggested that Stones could be moved on, with a return to Goodison Park or fresh start in north London seemingly on the cards, but no decision has been taken on that front as yet.

That is because a man who cost City £47.5 million ($60m) in the summer of 2016 is still hoping to overcome his recent struggles and convince the Blues of his worth.

Stones has told Sky Sports of his season so far: "Really frustrating from a personal perspective. Injury re-occurrence, then little things like getting injured a few days in after lockdown.

"It's been frustrating. I've tried to stay positive, and be ready when I'm called upon, and I feel I have been. Coming back after lockdown, getting fit again, and then coming back in and playing against some tough opponents.

"So I feel fit, feel ready to fight for the FA Cup at the weekend, and then the Champions League. I feel I'm on the right track. It's good to be getting that consistency of playing and keeping my fitness."

Stones saw another 90 minutes of Premier League action in City’s latest outing, but still ended a meeting with Bournemouth disappointed after seeing a clean sheet snatched away late on in a 2-1 win for Guardiola’s side.

"I'm really frustrated with conceding that goal at the end," Stones added.

"It's just an accumulation of things that happened in the game. Towards the end I felt we got a bit sloppy in our possession, and it's led to them scoring. It's probably a bit raw right now, obviously we've won, and it's good to get another win on the bounce.

"But from a personal point of view I'm frustrated we've conceded. We defended so well through the game, and they made it really difficult for us."

Stones will hope to have done enough to retain his place for an FA Cup semi-final clash with Arsenal on Saturday.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) captain Papy Tshishimbi has asked for forgiveness from fans after a 4-1 loss to Simba SC in Sunday's FA Cup encounter.

Yanga were humbled by their Kariakoo rivals during the domestic cup semi-final match and Tshishimbi has called on their fans to grant them forgiveness for what happened.

“I am not happy and it will take me long before I accept what happened at the National Stadium on July 12. The big issue was to see my team lose with a bigger margin against our archrivals,” Tshishimbi told Mwanaspoti.

“In my life, I have never lost with such a margin, especially against my great opponent.

“But what hurts me more is the big chance we have missed to appear again in the international matches [Caf inter-club] and again going for the third straight year without success.”

The midfielder revealed he was not 100 per cent fit to face Simba then but he had to play after coach Luc Eymael asked him to.

“I might have not been fit enough but I had to understand what the coach wanted from me; to go and help the team,” he added. “I am a soldier and at times one is needed to engage in war even when both legs are injured.

“I understand fans are not happy but on behalf of my teammates let me ask for forgiveness for what transpired then again.

“We made big mistakes and football is a game where mistakes committed are punished. Forgive us and we will strive to get back and continue with the journey.

“The journey that we need to begin afresh, even though we are injured, is to assess our mistakes, see what must be done and how it must be done.

“The results we got from the match showed explicitly the weaknesses of our squad. The squad has shown what must be done and in a big way so that the team can return to its previous healthy shape.

“It is sad to see supporters striving to support the team every time but we end up letting them down and giving them more pain. Let us come together and try to have a better future as a club.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo star further called for respect and discipline from his teammates.

Bernard Morrison has been singled out for lack of discipline by the online community after he stormed the pitch after he was substituted.

“Players must always remain disciplined and even if one is going to score 200 goals he must remember the club is always bigger than an individual,” concluded the captain.

“Matters of discipline must be looked into deeper or it may end up bringing more harm to the team than before.”

The July Dar es Salaam meeting was the third between the two most successful Tanzanian clubs in the year.

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy has expressed delight in the fact the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) will finally return next month.

McCarthy is confident coach Ernst Middendorp’s troops will walk away as new champions when the current season resumes.

On the idea of completing the current season in Gauteng as announced by PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza this week, the 43-year-old legend has backed the move.

“Yeah, it’s good news that we now know the dates for the restart, we have to give the match officials time to get their match fitness back to the best,” McCarthy told Goal.

“They have to prepare and be fit because playing football for six weeks will be a challenge for them. They can also get injured and get sick, this gives them enough time to get their minds and bodies ready.

“I think obviously Gauteng is the best option because the logistics are better here, the management and the offices are all here for the league and mother body.

“You only cater for Durban which has three teams, Free State one and I think the ones in Polokwane can stay there and only come here for the match. It’s a wise decision because if you take all the teams and move to KwaZulu-Natal. It’s a headache when you take 13 teams to get accommodation there.

“I think the idea for Gauteng can work, the restart will be smooth because the broadcasters are also in Gauteng, the PSL offices in terms of management and so on.

“We can’t wait for the league to restart and I personally can’t wait to see my team [Chiefs] taking this one. They have come a long way to drop the ball now. They have given everything and I’m with them. There’s no way we can let this one slip up.

“I just hope the players can protect their families, the media must be safe to give us the coverage and the stories. We are now watching the EPL [English Premier League], [Spanish] La Liga, and the [German] Bundesliga but we want the PSL and the NFD (National First Division) – I'd like to wish good luck to everybody.”

The retired Bafana Bafana defender also takes a look at how the delayed restart might have an impact on the upcoming 2020/21 campaign whilst also believing the month of October could be suitable for the start of the new season.

“The preparations for next season, I think they just have to minimize the preparations for the next one. Maybe give the team a month and start again,” he added.

“The guys have been away for three months and they just started training. I think the remaining games can be used as pre-season, probably start the new one by September. It’s a question of trying to find the balance to finish this one and the start of the 2020/21 season.

“So, I think it will suit the teams that will play the remaining games in August and to have a month’s break to get ready for the new one. If you pick up injuries, then you can still recover.

“I think most teams will take one week or two to recover and prepare for the 2020/21 season anyway. In my opinion, the first week of October can be best for us to start the new season.

“It will be a long 2020/21 season but it will also depend on the cup games, the Fifa calendar, and so on. Having a few weeks off for pre-season will suit most players, to say don’t give them too long to stay at home to restart the batteries.”

Arsenal have held talks over a move for Malang Sarr - but have yet to table a contract offer to the 21-year-old defender.

Sarr is a free agent having come to the end of his contract with Nice and has several clubs across Europe chasing his signature.

There have been suggestions that the Gunners have made an offer to the France Under-21 international centre-back, but sources close to the player have confirmed to Goal that is not the case.

While there have been discussions, talks with other clubs are far more advanced, with Italian side Torino making a concerted effort to lure Sarr to Turin.

Arsenal are exploring the possibility of bringing in another centre-back during the summer transfer window despite the arrival of William Saliba, who spent last season on loan with Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1.

But with the club’s finances still uncertain given the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the north Londoners looking unlikely to qualify for Europe next season, the Gunners are struggling to make any firm commitments regarding contract offers and transfer fees.

And following Wednesday night’s 2-1 win against champions Liverpool, head coach Mikel Arteta was asked whether he would be given the finances to improve his squad this summer.

"I don't know," he told Sky Sports. "It's a big concern.

"You need it to build a squad. It's not magic. You need to improve with quality players in the squad and you need bigger squads to compete in this competition. There's the challenge."

Arsenal will wait until the season is completed to make any decisions over possible new arrivals, when they feel they will have more clarity on what sort of money is available and who they might be able to move on to bolster the funds that could be available to Arteta.

The Gunners also hold an interest in Reims centre-back Axel Disasi. They registered their interest in the 22-year-old earlier in the year, but have yet to follow up with an offer for the centre-back, who has also been linked with Wolves and Southampton.

Meanwhile, Konstantinos Mavropanos has left Arsenal on loan to join VfB Stuttgart, with the Bundesliga side, who won promotion this season, seeing off competition from Werder Bremen to sign the defender on a temporary deal.

Mavropanos has just completed a successful loan spell in Germany as he helped Nurnberg escape relegation from the 2. Bundesliga, with the Greece Under-21 international having also penned a new deal with the Gunners.

After making the move to Germany’s second tier in January, Mavropanos made 13 appearances, with his performances catching the eye of several clubs in the country’s top two divisions.

Sven Mislintat, who was the man who first brought Mavropanos to Arsenal in 2017 when he was the Gunners’ head of recruitment, is the sporting director at Stuttgart, hence the Bundesliga side being particularly keen on bringing him in.

Clubs in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and the National Super League (NSL) will be competing in a Super 16 competition set to premier in the 2020/21 season.

Football Kenya Federation head Nick Mwendwa has confirmed the new tournament will take the place of the initial one dubbed the KPL Top 8 which had only included top-flight football clubs. 

"We will have a new tournament from next season called Super 16 which will be sponsored by BetKing," Mwendwa told Goal on Thursday.

"This is a competition which will involve the top eight teams in both the KPL, which will be referred to as BetKing Premier League and the NSL. 

"Matches will be played under floodlights and there will be monetary rewards and other prizes for the participating teams."

AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia recently secured a three-year deal with BetSafe. Sofapaka have Betika as their shirt sponsors. Will the deal between FKF and BetKing affect them?

"The BetKing deal will not affect shirt sponsors for clubs," Mwendwa revealed.

"You can see Liverpool with Standard Chartered Bank while the [Premier League] is sponsored by Barclays Bank. 

"So we will not have any issues there because BetKing are title sponsors and the others are shirt sponsors for the teams. Nothing will change and it will not affect anything."

BetKing will sponsor the Premier League for five years and is expected to fork out up to KSh1.2 billion for the participating teams. 

The arrival of the betting firm marks the biggest sponsorship deal ever inked by the Premier League in its history. BetKing will take the place that was left by the previous sponsor SportPesa whose exit left a huge hole in all teams’ pockets as well as league managers; the KPL Limited Company.

Part of the deal agreed between Kenya’s FA and the new sponsor is the renaming of the competition. 

FKF will take the management mantle from KPL whose contract ends in July 2020. Mwendwa has been categorical that they were not keen to renew KPL’s contract.

The 2020/21 season will mark the first time FKF is managing the top-flight after an era that spurned over a decade when the league was under KPL.

Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida has dismissed notions Kenyan Premier League (KPL) clubs need money in order to form women's teams.

Akida, on Tuesday, called on Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Bandari to form women’s teams as Real Madrid have done recently and has said a lack of financial resources should not be a hindrance at all.

“Who told you these big teams have money? Some of these foreign teams are in serious debt but they are debts taken on serious investments,” Akida argued on a Facebook post.

“Football is business and in business, you have to risk; they have risked and they always reaped benefits. The KWPL had sponsors at some point, it's sad they left.

“I believe now that they have a product, things will be up soon. But before that, we have to use what we have. Do you want the league to be scrapped because we don't have money?

“What will happen to the ladies who depend on those teams?”

The Kenyan forward also dismissed notions Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards' participation in the lower league will be unfair.

The Starlet believes Ingwe and K’Ogalo’s involvement, should they form sister teams, will not be unfair to other rivals as many have claimed.

“Surprised that some of you don't even realize there are laws in our country. For those who don't know, when you are to form a team, you'll have to start from the lowest point up,” she added.

“Whether you are from Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards or Mariakani FC at least that's the rule I know.”

Akida is confident the formation of women's clubs by big teams will help a lot of ladies launch their careers and get better teams thereafter.

“Earlier this year I think we had a number of ladies get teams abroad. Others were on the verge of sealing deals,” she concluded.

“Almost all of you were happy with the news. We all want our fellows to progress and these players were spotted somewhere there in Kenya. The national team coach picks these players from clubs.

“But when I request for our big clubs to have ladies’ teams to increase this number and scope, some of you are against it.

“Surely, where do you want these ladies you are proud of horn their skills? Where do you want those talented ladies in primary and secondary schools to trade? Where do you want them to showcase what they can do to the national team coach?”

The 27-year-old star played for KWPL sides Spedag FC and Thika Queens before moving abroad.

Bruno Fernandes has billed Cristiano Ronaldo as “the most skilful player [he has] ever seen”, while the Manchester United midfielder has also recognised the “amazing” qualities of club-mate Marcus Rashford.

A Portugal international on the books at Old Trafford has been piecing together his perfect player.

The 25-year-old was asked to make his selections for that dream performer from those he has played with and against over the course of his career to date.

It comes as no surprise to see five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo get the nod, with Fernandes having worked alongside the Juventus superstar at international level.

He acknowledges that an all-time great has changed his game down the years, having morphed from a tricky winger into a devastating goal-scoring frontman, but still considers him to be the most testing talent on the planet for opposition defenders.

Fernandes told BT Sport: “Cristiano – more in the first years of his career he was one of the most skilful players in the world.

“I think he changed his game a little bit, but he’s still a player who is really difficult one against one to defend against.

“For me, for everyone I have played with and against, I think he is the most skilful player I have ever seen.”

Another attribute that Fernandes’ perfect player needed to have was blistering pace, with United forward Rashford picked out in that department having shown a January arrival in Manchester what he is all about in a campaign which has delivered a career-best return of 21 goals.

“Rashford, I think he can have amazing pace but with amazing quality,” added Fernandes.

“It is difficult sometimes going at that velocity and still have the quality to do the right things – the right time to shoot, to pass, the skills.

“He surprised me a lot. Of course I already knew his quality because he is one of the best young players in the world.”

When it comes to leadership skills, Fernandes opted to go with Juventus’ legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon – who is still going strong at 42 years of age.

He selected Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante for his work rate, while another couple of World Cup winners were chosen for their footballing brains – with Italy icon Andrea Pirlo and Barcelona great Andres Iniesta completing Fernandes’s selection.

Express FC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Isaac Mwesiga is adamant Disan Galiwango is still contracted to the club despite his move to the Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC.

The defender was unveiled by the Kitende-based side at the beginning of July as a free agent. However, the administrator has come out strongly condemning the move, insisting it is illegal since their player is still attached to the Wankulukuku-based team.

"The fact is that Galiwango is still our captain because he signed an agreement with us," Mwesiga told Sanyuka TV as reported by Sports Nation.

"The agreement was that Galiwango was to renew his contract after receiving the money, which we gave him. He agreed to extend his contract with us for the next two years so he took that money.

"And when he was unveiled at Kitende, I called Vipers’ officials and told them that they have done a wrong thing because the player had an agreement with the club."

The CEO has revealed the complaint was raised with the Federation of Uganda Football Federations (Fufa).

"The issue is still in the federation (Fufa) which needs an injunction, the two clubs have to sit and negotiate for this transfer to happen and good enough Vipers agreed and we have no problem with it if the player needs to leave," Mwesiga added.

"However, Galiwanga has to leave in the right way and my chairman [Kiryowa Kiwanuka] was clear that if negotiation fails we will seek justice in the courts of law."  

The CEO has also shed light on the impact of coach Wasswa Bbosa on the team.

"We all know Bbosa is a good coach, a problem solver is a person who has a strong relationship with players, by the time he came to Express, we needed a coach who was going to give us stability, a coach who knows our culture, a coach who played for the team before, who has the experience and a coach who could give us immediate results and that was Bbosa," Mwesiga stated.

"He was a good choice because most of his teams tend to be very hard to beat and we are going to support him by giving him the players he needs and I want to ensure fans that we still have a long term future with him and we are very happy with what he has done so far."

The administrator has also revealed plans for the new season.

"Even though we released a couple of players, we have a lot of players remaining and we are going to promote others from our junior team.

"I call upon fans to stay calm and prepare to come back to the stadium because the team is going to go back where it is supposed to be." 

Vissel Kobe's Gotoku Sakai has revealed how Andres Iniesta has stepped up as club captain during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Spaniard keeping spirits high during the stoppage in the J1 League season.

Football in Japan restarted in early July, with Sakai's side securing their first win of the season away at Sagan Tosu last Wednesday.

And ahead of leading his team back to the pitch, Iniesta had made sure a dialogue remained open between himself and his team-mates to help with mental well-being during the public health crisis. 

“Off the pitch, he really showed his leadership qualities in the time when we were not able to play football,” Sakai told Goal. “He was trying to keep the group together as much as he could despite being a foreign player and having difficulties with the language.

“Being a former captain myself, I know how difficult that can be, to speak to a group and keep everybody together. But he really made an effort to do that, so I really respect him for that.

“In terms of on the pitch, he plays so many incredible passes. Last year, in the semi-final of the Emperor's Cup, he scored a very important goal for us. Every single day I get to play or train with him is something that I treasure.

“Just training with Andres makes you realise how much there is still to learn. Whether it's the timing of a pass or just the way he sees things, you realise there is still room for growth.

“He isn't a big talker, but he's someone who leads by example through his play. He's a big figure who carries a lot of responsibility. What he brings to this club is that he has the ability to deliver in the important moments – that's something invaluable for us.”

Like Iniesta, Sakai is perhaps better known for his career in Europe, where he played in the Bundesliga for eight years at Stuttgart and Hamburg. The Japan international left his home country at 21 but opted to return to the J League amid troubles at the latter side. 

While looking for clubs, he admits the former Barcelona star's presence helped him make his choice.

“With regards to my decision to leave Europe, I would break it down into two parts. The first would be my family, they are here in Japan and I wanted to be closer to them again,” Sakai said.

“Secondly, my time in Hamburg became difficult. The team was relegated to the second division and my own performances were under scrutiny – I wasn't playing to the best of my ability.

“It became a very inhospitable environment. Vissel Kobe were very eager to sign me, they were determined and they showed me that. I saw that they had players like Iniesta and Hotaru Yamaguchi, who is a really good friend and a quality player.

“The project excited me, you could see the ambition and potential for growth and the ability to challenge for titles, so that was a motivating factor.”

It wasn't all doom and gloom for Sakai in the Bundesliga, however, with the full-back having the exciting challenge of having to mark Bayern Munich legends Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

“Overall, Bayern Munich were the strongest,” he said. “In my position, two players stood out and they were Robben and Ribery. They were incredibly tough match-ups.

“To face Robben, you just have to watch out for him cutting in on his left. He always wants to cut in so you have to keep him on his right and make him run straight and not go inside.

“Ribery could do anything, so the most important thing was to get as close to him as possible when he got the ball and not let him get by you. When he gets up to speed, that's when he is most dangerous.”

Dimitar Berbatov remains “convinced” that Manchester United will secure a top-four finish this season, but the former striker is looking for the Red Devils to raise their game and have opponents “chasing them”.

Those at Old Trafford were once accustomed to leading from the front, with Sir Alex Ferguson overseeing 13 Premier League title triumphs.

A humbling tumble from the loftiest of perches has been endured since then, with United still working on climbing back up domestic and continental trees.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has offered cause for optimism in 2020, with his side currently unbeaten through 18 games in all competitions.

They did, however, allow two precious points to slip through their grasp in a dramatic 2-2 draw with Southampton last time out, meaning that there is still work to be done in order to secure Champions League qualification.

Berbatov believes that line will be crossed, but the Bulgarian is eager to see United become an imposing force once more.

A man who spent four years at Old Trafford in his playing days told Betfair: “United's draw against Southampton was disappointing. I'm sure United's staff and players were unhappy about missing the opportunity to go third, especially as it was their concentration which let them down.

“Winning the match would have made their jobs easier and put pressure on the teams around them.

“A top-four finish is still there for the taking. It is a positive that they didn't lose against Saints and hopefully that point will prove critical come the end of the season.

“Killing teams off has always been the United way. Against Southampton, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's players did all they could to kill the game off but their opponents played good football, they pressed the ball and tried to keep it, so they deserve a lot of credit.

“Killing off the opposition and scoring plenty of goals must be on the agenda for United every game, and to do that they need concentration and consistency.

“I was part of a United team that scored so many late goals and I also played against United teams that did that. If you ask any player, they will say it hurts when you concede so late. Especially when you are chasing a title, a cup or top four. I think those players will be hurting after that match.

“I am still convinced that United will finish in the top four but I cannot state it enough: they need to improve their concentration. They need to be 100 per cent switched on in every game, they can't afford to concede early goals, they don't want to be chasing games. This is Manchester United and it should be the opposition chasing them.

“When you go ahead, teams have to open up, that creates more space for the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to use their speed and terrorise defenders.

“The chances are still there for them, Chelsea and Leicester have had a few slips recently, so I am still confident that United will finish in the top four.”

United’s top-four fate is still in their own hands with three games to go, as they are due to end the 2019-20 campaign with a trip to the King Power Stadium, and their next outing is set to see them face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Thursday.

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has confirmed Victor Moses is ‘available’ for selection when they take on SPAL in Thursday’s Serie A game at Stadio Paolo Mazza.

The 29-year-old winger last featured for the Black and Blues in their victory over Brescia on July 1, owing to a thigh injury problem.

The former Nigeria international missed his side’s defeat to Bologna, as well as the draw against Hellas Verona and Monday’s home victory over Torino.

Conte, who previously affirmed the versatile player has fully recovered from his injury problem, stated he could be involved against Luigi Di Biagio’s men while also providing an injury update on the rest of his squad members.

“Moses is available, while Nicolo Barella is on the road to recovery. He’s started to work with the ball and we hope to have him at our disposal for the next game,” Conte told the club website.

“Vecino is still struggling with a knee problem. Sensi is continuing to receive treatment. Meanwhile, Lukaku is trying to overcome a contracture, we hope to have him back as soon as possible.”

Moses joined Inter temporarily in January from Premier League side Chelsea after cutting short his 18-month loan with Turkish Super Lig club Fenerbahce.

Since teaming up with the Black and Blues, the forward has made 12 appearances across all competitions, including seven in Serie A.

The former Nigeria international started his career with the youth setup of Crystal Palace and made his debut for the side at the age of 16 in 2007.

Moses featured 58 times for Palace before leaving the club to join Wigan Athletic and his eye-catching displays for the Latics saw him snapped up by Chelsea in 2012.

The forward, who won the Premier League title under the guidance of Conte in 2017, has now featured for five different clubs on loan.

Moses also enjoyed success with the Super Eagles before his retirement from international duty in August 2018, after featuring at the World Cup in Russia.

The winger had 38 caps for the West Africans, scoring 12 goals and played a key role as Nigeria won their third Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa in 2013.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa has revealed his target while in the office is to secure more sponsors for the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

Mwendwa, who is seeking a second four-year term, stated his wish is to see the league secures more financial partners. FKF has already secured BetKing as the title sponsor for the next five seasons.

“I am glad to announce to you that FKF has managed to secure a record sponsorship worth KSh1.2 billion,” Mwendwa told reporters on Thursday.

“You know our players have struggled for the last year, now as we approach taking over the running of the FKF Premier League we wanted to have a sponsor on board.

“The sponsorship starts from $2.2 in year one and then increases by 10 per cent in the subsequent years.

“In our view, this means at least every KPL team will get KSh8 million which is also a new record for our clubs.

“During my time the vision is to reach $20 million sponsorship deals and we are still talking to other sponsors and hopefully they will come on board.”

Mwendwa further explained how the league will be run from next season as the federation takes charge.

“We want to be very clear, the league will be run by FKF and will be run from the Goal Project [FKF Offices], and there is no more paying rent. The money we were using to pay rent will go to the clubs,” he added.

“KPL's term will end in September and we are hopeful the league can resume in October when the president will end the existing curfew.”

Confirming that teams will have the leverage on how to use the funds, Mwendwa stated the first deposit from BetKing will hit their accounts in a week.

“We have signed the contract and actually in the next seven days we shall receive the deposit payment which I will ask clubs what they want to do with it,” the FKF official explained.

“This is not a joke anymore as our vision is to get to $5 million dollars in five years, maybe in future, we will beat even the best leagues in Africa.

“In the middle of politics, sponsors have come to us and want to put money into football.

“The teams will decide how to spend the first money from sponsors. We will not sit and watch clubs suffer as we will continue to look for more sponsors.”

In 2019, FKF secured Betika as the sponsor for the National Super League and Mwendwa believes KPL’s struggle will end with the arrival of the new betting firm.

“It's as embarrassing we had sponsorship for NSL and we did not have the same for KPL, now all this is a thing of the past,” he concluded.

Mwendwa further stated clubs will form the FKF Premier League Board as well as a disciplinary committee which will be mandated to run the league as well.

He also said the fee from KPL to FKF which is normally around KSh12 million will be channelled to the Women's Premier League.

The official BetKing sponsorship deal launch is expected to be done in September.

Bafana Bafana and Amiens SC midfielder Bongani Zungu continues to attract interest from European clubs as his agent Alexis Ramalingam confirms he is talking to a French club and others in Europe.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns anchorman is reportedly on the radar of Scottish giants Rangers FC but his handler has refused to name the clubs that are keen to land the South African's signature.

Meanwhile, reports in Scotland suggests the recently-relegated Amiens are willing to let ‘Ben10’ leave for around €4million (approximately £3.8million) after he entered into the last year of his contract in the north of France.

“There’s a big possibility that he leaves France this summer but we can’t comment about any clubs for now in order to respect the clubs we are in talks with,” Ramalingam told Scotsman.

“There’s interest in Ligue 1 and in other parts of Europe but I just can’t reveal where for now.”

Just after his club was relegated to Ligue 2 following a decision to call the 2019/20 Ligue1 campaign was forcefully completed because of the coronavirus pandemic, Zungu expressed his desire to further his career elsewhere in Europe.

The publication indicates that a long-term deal is on the table waiting for Zungu should the two teams eventually come to an agreement, with the Bafana international eager to make the switch to Scotland and play Uefa Europa League football under Steven Gerrard next season.

In addition, the Scottish outlet has it that the team managed by former Liverpool midfielder and skipper is prepared to pay the money wanted by Amiens.

The former University of Pretoria midfielder parted ways with the reigning Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions and joined Vitoria de Guimaraes in Portugal in 2016, before finding his way to Amiens in Ligue 1 the following year.

Zungu came close to completing his switch to Real Mallorca in the Spanish La Liga in the January transfer window, but the French club opted to retain his services at the last hour but that has not affected the 27-year-old’s interest of going to play in the Spanish top-flight.

Taking a look at his contribution this past term, the Duduza-born midfielder featured in 24 games across all competitions and netted a single goal and one assist.

Former Orlando Pirates left-back Phetso Maphanga has conceded that he “got overwhelmed” by the stiff competition at the club which led to his short-lived stint, but still believes that he can sign for another giant again.

The unsuccessful stint at Pirates, marked by very limited playing minutes, appears to unfaze Maphanga who says he sees himself turning out for a “bigger team again in future.”

Signed by Milutin Sredojevic midway through the 2017/2018 season from Chippa United, Maphanga featured in just four matches across all competitions for the rest of that campaign.

The following season, he only managed one league appearance, lasting just the first half of the term and was sent back to Chippa on loan before the move was switched to a permanent signing in July 2019.

“I failed, I failed. I won't say I was not ready or blame coaches,” Maphanga told Sowetan Live.

“I arrived in January that's in the middle of the season and the coach [Milutin Sredojevic] was using many players, but I couldn't impress.

“I think I failed because of pressure and maybe it was not meant to be at that time. Pirates have a lot of quality players and the competition is so stiff, each and every game you must play to win, so maybe at that time I got overwhelmed by all that.”

The defender says his stint at Pirates offered him valuable lessons and he has not yet lost hope of signing for a bigger club.

"Obviously, I see myself playing for a bigger team again in future. I have the potential. I learnt from what happened at Pirates. Everything would work well now,” said Maphanga.

“When I am injury-free, I know what I can offer on the pitch. But at this moment my focus is on Chippa. I want to continue giving my all to this beautiful club that I love.”

Injuries have been a major setback for Maphanga at Chippa where he has also been enduring limited game time.

During the second half of last season where he arrived on loan from Pirates, the left-back played just four games in all competitions.

This campaign has also seen him battling to just five games and it is yet to be seen if he could pick himself up in the event that football resumes in South Africa.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has become a “massive issue” for Chelsea, claims Chris Sutton, with the former Blues striker saying “more business” is required from Frank Lampard in the next transfer window.

Roman Abramovich has already freed up funds that have allowed deals for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner to be put in place.

They are considered to be exciting additions to a promising young squad at Stamford Bridge, but more arrivals are expected.

Frank Lampard is looking to wrap up a top-four finish that will make it easier for him to add, with Champions League football holding obvious appeal to ambitious performers.

Sutton hopes more money will be made available in west London, with Chelsea still having a number of issues to address – starting between the sticks and the most expensive goalkeeper in world football.

The ex-Blues frontman told Stadium Astro: "What's been the positives for Chelsea this season?

"The likes of [Mason] Mount coming to the fore, Tammy Abraham coming to the fore, they've now done some good business with Ziyech and Werner, so things are looking up.

"But they need to do some more business as well.

"I think the goalkeeper is a massive issue and defensively they've conceded too many goals.

"Frank will know that but there's no point worrying about that at this moment in time.

"Get over the line, get a Champions League spot, you know the riches which come from the Champions League and the finance which comes with that, and then he can address all these issues once the season finishes."

Sutton is not the only former Chelsea star to have pointed out that Lampard still has much work to do in order to turn the Blues into serious contenders for the very biggest prizes available.

Ex-midfielder Craig Burley has also called for more work to be done on the recruitment front over the coming weeks.

He has told ESPN FC: "What they've done is they've gone out and bought attacking players so far.

"But I think we can see the centre-half position and certainly the left-back position needs addressing.

"Although [Marcos] Alonso does some good things going forward, he has generally operated better as a wing-back.

"So I think there are some huge concerns there in that position, as well as the goalkeeper who clearly was untested [in a 1-0 win over Norwich] but there has been animosity between the goalkeeper and the coaching staff, we know that from the last six months or so."